In the late 1700's, an infirmary was established for the mentally ill in Charleston, but it wasn't until the 1800's that the state recognized the mental health care movement.

In 1820, South Carolina State Legislature agreed to build the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum and school for the deaf and dumb. At this time, South Carolina was the second state to receive funding for the mentally ill, second to Virginia.

Plans were drawn up by renowned architect, Robert Mills and in 1822, construction began. Six years later, in 1828, the first patient was admitted.

While the archway in the wings of the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum appear to be part of the original architecture, in the shadows, one can see a metal roll-up door, likely an addition made to comply with fire codes, to separate the outer wings from the more central wings in the event of a fire.